The seventh After School Matters gala, led by Chicago’s first lady, Maggie Daley, drew more than 2,200 guests to Washington Park (dubbed the “hopeful” site of the 2016 Summer Olympics) on Wednesday. Packing large tents set up on the site, they helped raise more than $3 million for after-school opportunities for teens in Chicago’s underserved communities.

Co-chairs were Michael Ferro Jr., chairman and CEO of Merrick Ventures; Patricia Hemingway Hall, president and chief operating officer of Health Care Service Corp.; Paul La Schiazza, president of AT&T Illinois, the presenting sponsor; Miles White, chairman and CEO of Abbott Labs, and Frank Clark, chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison Co.

During cocktails, guests were served hors d’oeuvres by teens in the culinary arts program while viewing an on-site gallery that featured metalwork, furniture, painting, photography and soft sculpture created by students and available for purchase. Guests segeued into another tent for outstanding performances by teens in the Jazz Big Band, the Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Dance Ensemble and the Joffrey Ballet Intensive program.

Dinner of salad, beef tenderloin, whitefish and a colorful dessert—underwritten by philanthropist Ann Lurie—was served after brief welcomes by the mayor, Maggie Daley and Mr. La Schiazza. It all ended with a terrific fireworks display.

“To be able to create these out-of-school activities for our Chicago teenagers is imperative,” said a beaming Ms. Daley. “I’m very pleased with what they bring to the table; they give us their talent and energy. And practically every program that we offer has a waiting list.”

May 15, 2014

A lotta night music: That's what Mozart might have called Merit School of Music's 35th anniversary celebration, held May 8 at the Palmer House Hilton. From cocktails through dinner, live music performed by students from the West Side school filled the air.